It survived the Great Depression, World War II, and endless gnashing of teeth about its good and bad points, and this month it celebrates its 100th birthday here in the U.S.

Daylight saving time, which starts its annual eight-month run at 2 a.m. Sunday, was first enacted by the federal government March 19, 1918, during World War I as a way to conserve coal.

And though it was halted nationally later that year, it persisted in some form at local or state levels for decades before being finally being recognized again nationally in 1966 by the Uniform Time Act.

To many a minor annoyance or a bit of relief, daylight saving time reminds us of the sun's daily influence on our lives and tells us spring is on its way.

Who's in charge of time?

"The oversight of time zones was assigned to DOT because time standards are important for many modes of transportation," according to the department's website.

The DOT says daylight saving is observed because it saves energy, saves lives by preventing traffic accidents and reduces crime.

The agency boasts people tend to spend more time outside during daylight saving time, meaning they run household appliances and lights less during those eight months. Also, the DOT said, it prevents traffic incidents because people are driving around more during the light hours. It also is a crime deterrent, DOT says, because people are out during the daylight and not at night, "when more crime occurs," the agency says.

In 2007, the federal government expanded daylight saving time in order to reduce energy consumption. Daylight saving time now accounts for about 65% of the year.

States have the final say on daylight saving

Not everyone agrees it offers energy-saving benefits, however. Some studies report the time switch saves energy on lighting but is surpassed by increases in heating and air-conditioning.

Whether to observe daylight saving time is purely a state matter, so how a state determines that — through law, resolution, or executive order — is up to the state. The state would just need to let the DOT — and the rest of the world — know it no longer observes daylight saving time, if that is the decision.

Hawaii and most of Arizona don't take part in daylight saving time. Arizona, which gets ample sunlight, opted out in 1968. But certain Native American reservations in Arizona still participate. Other non-observers are American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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That "Five O'Clock Somewhere" feeling may get a whole hour longer.
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Florida wants to be first state with year-round DST

While those states and territories have given daylight saving the heave-ho, a movement aimed at throwing a little more sunlight onto cold winter days is gaining traction across the nation. Twenty-six states considered making daylight saving time permanent last year, according to Time Zone, a group tracking and promoting the effort.

While ditching daylight saving involves a state merely notifying the DOT, enacting it year-round is more involved, including approval by Congress. A state can not “permanently” stay on daylight saving time under federal law, the DOT says.

A bill to let Florida remain on daylight saving time year-round is headed to Gov. Rick Scott's desk after the state Senate approved it 33-2 on Tuesday.

While the rest of the eastern U.S. would set their clocks back in the fall, Florida wouldn't, leaving it with more sunshine in the evening during the winter.

Florida state Sen. Greg Steube, a Republican, is behind the Sunshine Protection Act of 2018, which would put an end to the twice-a-year routine of moving the clock an hour ahead or an hour behind. Steube thinks if Florida takes a stand, the idea will spread across the nation.

Folks in the state's panhandle balked at the idea of making the whole state observe Eastern time, as had been first proposed. As of now, Florida would continue to be in two time zones, with the majority of the state in Eastern Time and a small portion of the panhandle in Central Time.

Others see daylight saving time as a moment to check on some household duties that have fallen by the wayside. Many fire departments suggest people check their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when they adjust their clocks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises people have their vehicles checked for safety recalls.

If the late sunlight isn't your thing, the clocks turn back at 2 a.m. Nov. 4.